UK Government to Examine GTA 6 Dev Rockstar Games After Alleged Union Busting
- Sagar Mankar
- 24 hours ago
- 2 min read
The UK government will investigate Rockstar Games following allegations of "union busting" tied to the dismissal of over 30 employees.
During Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) on December 10, Scottish Labour MP Chris Murray raised concerns about Rockstar’s recent firings.
Murray explained that after meeting with the company, he was not reassured that employment law was being followed. He asked Prime Minister Keir Starmer whether he agreed that “all companies, regardless of profit size, must follow UK employment law and all workers have the right to join a union.”
Starmer responded with a clear statement: “Well, it’s a deeply concerning case. Every worker has the right to join a trade union, and we’re determined to strengthen workers' rights and ensure they don’t face unfair consequences for being part of a union. Ministers will look into the particular case that he raises and keep him updated.”
The controversy stems from October, when more than 30 staff members across Edinburgh, Dundee, Lincoln, and Toronto were dismissed. The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) described the move as “blatant and ruthless union busting.” Rockstar, however, denied the accusation, claiming the employees were fired for “gross misconduct” after allegedly sharing confidential information in Discord chats.
Reports suggest those dismissed included senior artists, animators, QA testers, programmers, and designers. Some insiders even warned the cuts could impact GTA 6’s development timeline, with morale inside the studio said to have dropped significantly.
The issue has gained political traction beyond the UK. Edinburgh’s City Council recently passed a motion supporting affected workers, while protests have taken place outside Rockstar’s New York headquarters.
Rockstar’s highly anticipated GTA 6 is now scheduled for November 2026, after being pushed back from its original May release. Reports indicate the game is "content complete," but the delay is intended to ensure a polished launch. The setback is expected to cost the company over $60 million in development expenses.